Curiosity

Artifacts for Curiosity:

KBreen-Benchmark Literature Review.docx 

Reflection:

As a school counselor, curiosity is a value I hold personally and an essential component of my professional practice. I have realized that curiosity is the foundation for fostering emotional growth, building strong relationships, and supporting students' academic and personal development. Through curiosity, I can truly understand my student’s needs, explore new ways to support them and help them develop a love for learning that extends beyond the classroom.

Curiosity in My Work with Students

One of the key ways I demonstrate curiosity in my role is by actively seeking to understand each student's unique experiences, struggles, and strengths. Curiosity drives me to ask open-ended questions during individual and group counseling sessions to encourage students to reflect on their feelings, challenges, and goals. For example, when a student struggles with classroom behavior, I do not address the immediate issue; I dig deeper by asking questions that allow me to understand what my students are feeling and why they are making the choices they are in their learning environments. These questions help me understand the root causes of their behavior and allow me to create more effective strategies tailored to their needs.

Additionally, I approach each interaction with a growth mindset, believing that every student has the potential to learn and develop. I remain curious about how students process information, handle emotions, and engage with others. This curiosity drives me to continuously adapt my approach, whether providing counseling, leading small group sessions on conflict resolution, or facilitating social-emotional learning activities. 

Curiosity as a Teaching Tool

Curiosity also plays a vital role in my work within the classroom. Collaborating with teachers, I encourage students to ask questions, explore topics that interest them, and embrace their curiosities. I often integrate activities into my counseling lessons that promote critical thinking and problem-solving, such as asking students to come up with different solutions to hypothetical social problems or exploring how they might express their emotions through art. By encouraging curiosity in students, I help them understand that learning is an ongoing process and that it's okay not to have all the answers immediately.

One of the most exciting aspects of promoting curiosity in the classroom is watching students begin to recognize their interests and passions. For example, I’ve had students who, after engaging in a lesson on identifying emotions, become curious about learning more about how their brain works during times of stress or how to handle their feelings in healthy ways. Seeing how curiosity sparks further learning and empowers students to take ownership of their emotional growth is incredibly rewarding.

Curiosity in Building Relationships

As a counselor, building strong, trusting relationships with students is essential. Curiosity is at the heart of these connections. When I meet with students, I approach them with an open mind, genuinely curious about their experiences and perspectives. I listen closely, without judgment, and seek to understand their thoughts and feelings. This approach helps me provide better support and shows students that their voices matter. They are likelier to open up and trust me when they see that I am genuinely interested in their well-being and growth.

My curiosity also extends to collaborating with teachers, families, and other school staff. I gain a complete understanding of the student's world by asking questions about a child’s home life, learning style, or peer relationships. This allows me to create more comprehensive support plans and develop interventions that align with the child’s needs. Curiosity also means being open to feedback from other adults in the child’s life, as it helps me refine my approaches and build a more muscular support system for the student.

Personal Growth Through Curiosity

Curiosity is not only essential in my work with students but also in my development as a counselor. I am constantly learning through reading up on the latest counseling techniques, attending workshops, or seeking mentorship from experienced professionals. Curiosity keeps me motivated to expand my knowledge of child development, mental health, and the latest trends in school counseling. I regularly reflect on my practice and seek new ways to improve my work, asking myself, “How can I better support my students? What new techniques or strategies can I try?”

I have also learned that curiosity requires me to be open to challenges and failures. I struggled to connect with specific students or create effective interventions in my early years as a school counselor. However, rather than seeing these as setbacks, my curiosity helped me view them as opportunities for growth. I reflected on what went wrong, asked for advice from colleagues, and researched alternative strategies. Over time, this mindset has allowed me to evolve into a more effective counselor.

Looking Ahead

Moving forward, I aim to continue nurturing my curiosity by exploring more about trauma-informed counseling practices and how I can better support students who have experienced trauma. I also want to learn more about integrating mindfulness and social-emotional learning into my practice. I believe these tools are essential in helping students develop resilience and self-awareness.

As I continue as a school counselor, I know that curiosity will remain a driving force in my work. It fuels my desire to understand my students more deeply, fosters a classroom environment where inquiry is encouraged, and pushes me to grow and evolve as a professional. In turn, I aim to inspire my students to embrace their curiosity in and out of the classroom and equip them with the tools to be lifelong learners and problem-solvers.

Professional and Ethical Standards:

ASCA Standard: M5. Effective school counseling is a collaborative process involving school counselors, students, families, teachers, administrators, other school staff, and education stakeholders.

ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors: B.3. Responsibilities to self

CACREP Standard: G.3.6. Techniques of personal/social counseling in school settings

Guiding Questions:

1. How does the school counselor in training (SCIT) demonstrate curiosity? 

As a school counselor in training (SCIT), I demonstrate curiosity by consistently seeking to understand the individual needs, backgrounds, and emotions of the students I work with. I ask thoughtful, open-ended questions during counseling sessions to encourage students to reflect on their feelings and experiences, which allows me to gain a deeper insight into their lives. I approach each situation with an open mind, eager to learn more about each student's unique challenges and strengths. This curiosity extends beyond individual counseling as I actively research best practices, new counseling techniques, and relevant child development theories to enhance my ability to support students. I am also curious about how different environmental factors, such as family dynamics or classroom settings, influence student behavior and well-being. This motivates me to collaborate with teachers and parents to understand each child’s needs better. 

2. How does the SCIT promote and support curiosity in the classroom? 

I promote and support curiosity in the classroom by creating an environment where students feel encouraged to ask questions, explore new ideas, and think critically about their experiences. I design counseling lessons and activities that spark their interest in social and emotional topics, such as identifying emotions, conflict resolution, and empathy. I use interactive strategies, like role-playing and group discussions, to engage students in exploring different perspectives and problem-solving scenarios. By fostering a safe and supportive space for exploration, I help students develop a mindset that values curiosity as an essential part of learning and personal growth.